NATO has all necessary plans to protect Turkey: Rasmussen

Source:Xinhua Published: 2012-10-9 19:23:56

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Tuesday that the military alliance has "all necessary plans in place" to defend Turkey if necessary."

"Turkey has a right to defend itself within the international law ... and obviously, Turkey can rely on NATO solidarity," Rasmussen said before a two-day gathering of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

"We have all necessary plans in place to protect and defend Turkey if necessary," he vowed.

In addition, the NATO chief praised Turkey's restraints in its response to recent shelling from Syria and urged all parties to calm down.

"We hope it would be necessary. We hope all parties involved will show restraints and avoid escalation of the crisis," he said.

Rasmussen said he believed the the right way forward in Syria is "a political solution" and the international community should send "a strong and united message" to the Syrian government that "the legitimate aspirations" of the Syrian people should be respected.

Posted in: Europe

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